2021-2023 Mercedes-Benz Metris Fuel Pump Recall (23V444)
Daimler Vans USA, LLC · 20,500 vehicles · Reported June 26, 2023
Daimler Vans USA, LLC is recalling 20,500 2021-2023 Mercedes-Benz Metris; 2021-2022 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 1500; 2021-2022 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 2500 vehicles. The fuel pump may shutdown, which can result in a loss of drive power. A loss of drive power can increase the risk of a crash. Dealers will make the repair free of charge.
Recall 23V444 at a glance
| NHTSA campaign number | 23V444000 |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer recall number | 4790205 |
| Date reported to NHTSA | June 26, 2023 |
| Manufacturer | Daimler Vans USA, LLC |
| Vehicles | 2021-2023 Mercedes-Benz Metris; 2021-2022 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 1500; 2021-2022 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 2500 |
| Units affected | 20,500 |
| Component | Fuel System, Gasoline > Delivery > Fuel Pump |
| Safety risk | A loss of drive power can increase the risk of a crash. |
| Fix | Available at dealers |
What is wrong with the 2021-2023 Mercedes-Benz Metris in recall 23V444?
The fuel pump may shutdown, which can result in a loss of drive power.
Daimler Vans USA, LLC (DVUSA) is recalling certain 2021 Freightliner Sprinter and 2021-2023 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter and Metris vehicles. The fuel pump may shutdown, which can result in a loss of drive power.
Is it safe to drive a 2021-2023 Metris with recall 23V444?
NHTSA has not told owners to stop driving, but the risk is real: A loss of drive power can increase the risk of a crash.
NHTSA describes the risk this way: A loss of drive power can increase the risk of a crash.
NHTSA has not issued a do-not-drive or park-outside warning for this recall. Still, get the repair done as soon as it is available, and stop driving if you notice symptoms related to the fuel pump.
Which vehicles are included in recall 23V444?
Recall 23V444 covers 20,500 vehicles: 2021-2023 Mercedes-Benz Metris; 2021-2022 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 1500; 2021-2022 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 2500.
NHTSA lists 20,500 vehicles in this campaign. Not every vehicle of these models and years is included, so check your VIN.
| Model years | Make | Model |
|---|---|---|
| 2021-2023 | Mercedes-Benz | Metris |
| 2021-2022 | Mercedes-Benz | Sprinter 1500 |
| 2021-2022 | Mercedes-Benz | Sprinter 2500 |
What is the fix for the Metris fuel pump recall?
Yes. Dealers will replace the fuel pump, free of charge.
Dealers will replace the fuel pump, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 1, 2023. Owners may contact DVUSA customer service at 1-877-762-8267. DVUSA's number for this recall is 4790205.
When was recall 23V444 announced?
Daimler Vans USA, LLC reported recall 23V444 to NHTSA on June 26, 2023. NHTSA lists the owner letter date as November 1, 2023.
| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| June 26, 2023 | Daimler Vans USA, LLC filed the defect report with NHTSA; NHTSA assigned campaign 23V444000. |
| November 1, 2023 | Owner notification letters mailed (per NHTSA). |
This recall was filed 39 months ago. If your Metris was built in that window, the VIN check below is the way to confirm it is included.
How do I check if my Metris is part of recall 23V444?
Enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. If recall 23V444 is open on your Metris, it will be listed there.
The fastest check is NHTSA’s VIN lookup. Type in the 17 characters from your registration or insurance card. Because only some 2021-2023 Metris vehicles are included, the VIN check is the only reliable way to know. A brand-new recall may take several days to show up.
What should Metris owners do about recall 23V444?
Check your VIN, schedule the free recall repair, and keep a repair order for every dealer visit.
- Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm recall 23V444000 applies to your Metris.
- Book the recall appointment with any authorized Mercedes-Benz dealer. Ask up front whether parts are available and how long the vehicle will be there.
- Get a repair order for every visit, even if the dealer only inspects the vehicle. Read it before you leave and make sure your complaint is written the way you described it.
- Write down when symptoms involving the fuel pump happen: date, mileage, speed, weather and what you felt or heard. Photos and short videos help.
- Count the days the vehicle is at the dealer. Days out of service add up toward California's 30-day presumption.
- If the problem comes back after the repair, return to the dealer and contact a lemon law attorney.
What are Metris owners reporting to NHTSA?
Owners have filed 107 complaints with NHTSA about these vehicles since 2020, 14 of them about the fuel system.
Since recall 23V444 was reported on June 26, 2023, owners have filed 10 complaints with NHTSA about the fuel system on these vehicles. 0 of them (0%) describe the same problem happening more than once or coming back after a repair attempt.
How we counted: we matched NHTSA owner complaints for the model years in this recall that list the fuel system and were received on or after June 26, 2023, then flagged narratives that describe a repeat failure or a problem returning after a dealer repair, recall service or software update. Data from NHTSA, accessed October 1, 2026. Complaints are unverified owner reports and may involve a related fuel system issue rather than this exact defect; automated text matching can miss or misread some reports.
NHTSA’s public complaint database lists 107 owner complaints filed since 2020 for the vehicles in this recall, and 14 of them involve the fuel system. Complaints are reports from owners and have not been verified by NHTSA, but a high count for the same component is a sign the problem is widespread.
- 2021 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 2500: 45 complaints in total, 3 about the fuel system
- 2022 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 2500: 40 complaints in total, 4 about the fuel system
- 2022 Mercedes-Benz Metris: 9 complaints in total, 7 about the fuel system
- 2021 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 1500: 9 complaints in total, 0 about the fuel system
- 2023 Mercedes-Benz Metris: 2 complaints in total, 0 about the fuel system
- 2021 Mercedes-Benz Metris: 1 complaints in total, 0 about the fuel system
- 2022 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 1500: 1 complaints in total, 0 about the fuel system
A few excerpts from owner complaints filed with NHTSA (unverified, lightly trimmed):
At altitudes of over 5,000’ MSL the vehicle will not move when shifted into Drive or Reverse. No response from gas pedal. Vehicle will randomly hesitate with zero or poor throttle response when driving creating an extreme safety hazard.
2021 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 2500 owner, CO, NHTSA complaint 11485202, filed September 19, 2022
At high altitudes and / or cold weather, the vehicle will not move at all until it runs for about 5 to 10 minutes. It starts and revs just fine in neutral, but once you put it into drive, the throttle completely stops responding.
2021 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 2500 owner, CO, NHTSA complaint 11515413, filed April 4, 2023
The contact owns a 2022 Mercedes-Benz Metris. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V881000 (Fuel System, Gasoline) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available.
2022 Mercedes-Benz Metris owner, CA, NHTSA complaint 11568852, filed January 30, 2024
Can recall 23V444 make my Metris a lemon in California?
Not by itself. A recall repair that fails, or repeat dealer visits for the same defect, can support a California lemon law claim.
A recall by itself does not make a car a lemon. Under California's Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act, what matters is whether a defect covered by the warranty substantially impairs the vehicle's use, value or safety, and whether the manufacturer or its dealers fixed it within a reasonable number of attempts (Civ. Code 1793.2(d)).
Fuel pump and fuel line defects can cause the 2021-2023 Mercedes-Benz Metris to stall without warning. If it happens again after the recall repair, document it and return to the dealer.
A remedy is available. Many vehicles are fixed on the first try. If the problem returns after the recall repair, or the 2021-2023 Mercedes-Benz Metris has needed other repairs for the same defect, those visits count toward a lemon law claim.
California law presumes a reasonable number of attempts has been made if, within 18 months or 18,000 miles of delivery, the same problem was repaired two or more times for a defect likely to cause death or serious injury, four or more times for any covered defect, or the vehicle was out of service for repairs more than 30 days in total (Civ. Code 1793.22(b)). Some of these require written notice to the manufacturer. A claim can still succeed outside that window.
An owner who prevails in a lemon law case can recover reasonable attorney fees and costs from the manufacturer (Civ. Code 1794(d)). You pay nothing, win or lose. We are paid only if you win, and the manufacturer pays our fees, including in settlements. If a case is lost, our firm covers the costs.
In our cases, a recall repair visit counts as a repair attempt, and it's strongest when the owner complained about the problem before the recall came out. A recall shows the defect is real and that enough owners reported it for the manufacturer to issue a fix.
The biggest mistake I see is waiting too long. The mileage offset starts at your first repair visit for the problem, so the sooner you take it in, the better. If the problem comes and goes, take it in when it happens. You can't go back to that date later.
If you get a recall notice, call a lemon law attorney right away. You may have taken the car in for the same problem before and forgotten, or there may be other recalls related to it.
Jacob Shayesteh, Esq. (SBN 362320), Founder and Managing Attorney. Quotes lightly edited for clarity. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
Has your Metris been back to the dealer for this problem?
Call 877-536-6620Other Mercedes-Benz Metris recalls
Frequently asked questions about recall 23V444
Did the recall 23V444 fix work?
Since recall 23V444 was reported on June 26, 2023, owners have filed 10 complaints with NHTSA about the fuel system on these vehicles. 0 of them (0%) describe the same problem happening more than once or coming back after a repair attempt. If your vehicle still has the problem after the recall repair, go back to the dealer, get a repair order, and talk to a lemon law attorney.
When will owners be notified?
According to NHTSA, owner notification letters were or are scheduled to be mailed November 1, 2023.
Is the 23V444000 recall repair free?
Yes. Safety recall repairs are done free of charge at authorized dealers.
How do I know if my Metris is part of recall 23V444000?
Enter your 17-character VIN in NHTSA's recall lookup at nhtsa.gov/recalls, or call a dealer. The VIN is on your registration, insurance card and the lower corner of the windshield.
Does a recall mean my car is a lemon?
Not on its own. A lemon law claim depends on whether a covered defect keeps coming back or keeps the vehicle out of service. A recall repair that fails, or repeat visits for the same problem, can support a claim.
Does the recall fixing my car mean I have no case?
Not necessarily. Even if the recall repair fixed it, you may still have a case, and a car that's a year or more old can still qualify.
Do used cars qualify for California lemon law?
We take certified pre-owned, demo and dealer vehicles. Since the California Supreme Court's Rodriguez decision in 2024, ordinary used cars generally do not qualify.
How long does a recall lemon law case take?
Recall-related cases typically resolve in one to three months from your first call. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
What does a lemon law attorney cost?
You pay nothing, win or lose. We are paid only if you win, and the manufacturer pays our fees, including in settlements. If a case is lost, our firm covers the costs.
Sources
- NHTSA recall record 23V444000 (recall report and owner letters are posted there)
- NHTSA complaints and recalls data, accessed October 1, 2026
- California Civil Code 1793.2 and 1793.22
Attorney advertising. America’s Lemon Lawyer is a trade name of Wynn Law Group, APC. Responsible attorney: Jacob Shayesteh, Esq. (SBN 362320). This page is general information, not legal advice. America’s Lemon Lawyer is not affiliated with NHTSA or Mercedes-Benz. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.